174: That was a good kick, it saved your future husband.

Si Nan intercepted the Black Boss with an artillery shell, forcing him to retreat.

Just then, Luo Sen, Song Yuan, Ma Bufan, and Guan Xiaoning all arrived, positioning themselves to intercept the Black Boss from the front and left, while she, Jian Bing, and Guan Xiaowen covered the right side, creating a 360-degree encirclement.

In the center were the Black Boss and his nine surviving brothers, totaling ten people.

"Hahahaha---" The Black Boss looked around and suddenly burst out laughing, "I admit I've been cornered today, but the outcome isn't certain yet. You only have seven people, and we have ten."

Si Nan curved her lips, "Who says having more people guarantees victory? Ma Bufan, Guan Xiaoning, each of you must take down two opponents today, or it proves you haven't been training at full capacity these past few weeks."

"Sister Nan, don't worry. If I can't take down two people, my last name isn't Ma, it's Donkey."

"Charge!"

Guan Xiaoning charged first, not choosing an opponent, catching one off guard. He took down two with a single jump and flying kick, then, while landing, pulled out his Military Knife and stabbed one in the heart, completing half his target.

He then quickly got up and tackled the other person who was scrambling up, and the two began to grapple.

Looking at Ma Bufan, he didn't seize the initiative like Guan Xiaoning by kicking an opponent before they could even attack. This guy was cunning; after rushing toward one enemy, he feigned an attack, and while the opponent dodged and defended.

He decisively gave up that move and slammed his military shovel onto the head of the person next to him, instantly splattering brains and perfectly completing half his target. After that, he instantly moved from his position to select a new target and began killing.

Even the Black Boss was shocked, grinding his teeth, "Kill these two little brats for me!"

"You little brats, give me your lives! Taste my Desperate Blade!"

As a result, with a crisp 'puchi' sound, a Military Knife pierced through that person's body, passing straight through the heart and lungs, then spun in the air before returning steadily to Luo Sen's hand.

"This—impossible!" The Black Boss and his brothers were shocked, staring wide-eyed at Luo Sen. He was clearly handsome, but he was a devil, and the threat of death gradually closed in.

He raised his hand, "Fight them to the death! Either we die or they do!"

"Charge!" The Black Boss and his subordinates raised their guns.

However, after a chaotic flurry of sword flashes and clanging sounds, all the guns dropped to the ground, and their wrists were slashed, bleeding profusely.

"Kill!" Immediately following, Jian Bing and Song Yuan, and even Guan Xiaowen, all charged forward.

Luo Sen and Si Nan stood on the sidelines observing, ready to shoot anyone who dared to sneak attack. Jian Bing and Song Yuan intercepted the Black Boss to prevent his escape, mainly leaving the remaining few for Ma Bufan, Guan Xiaoning, and Guan Xiaowen to practice on.

To improve one's combat strength, one must engage in real, life-or-death combat; only this way can one discover their shortcomings.

"Ouch, that hurts." Ma Bufan, having taken a knife wound, finally finished off his second opponent. He wasn't arrogant; instead, he ran over to help Guan Xiaowen.

Guan Xiaowen was, after all, a girl, and her strength was far weaker. She was thrown several meters by an enemy, but she didn't utter a sound. She got up and rushed back, using a reckless fighting style that injured the enemy at the cost of heavy self-damage, ultimately finishing her opponent.

Ma Bufan couldn't even step in to help her, fearing he might accidentally injure her.

Jian Bing's eyes lit up, and he said to Si Nan, "This little girl is something else. I thought girls her age would all be pampered, but I didn't expect her to be so ruthless. If we cultivate her well, she might become the next you."

"Yes, she definitely needs proper cultivation, not just in skills, but also in matters of the heart," Si Nan replied thoughtfully while watching Guan Xiaowen.

"Matters of the heart? Is she dating someone? Then I'm powerless to help," Jian Bing hadn't caught on yet.

Si Nan suddenly leaned close to Jian Bing and said, "I mean for you to date her."

"What? You little brat, are you trying to rebel? I have no such intentions; she's still a Child." Jian Bing immediately panicked, flushing crimson despite his age.

Si Nan burst out laughing, "Hahaha, the cutest age gap! Isn't it popular now to have an uncle and a little girl? Besides, she's already 19; she's not a Child anymore. Give it a try."

"Go away, you'll become unreliable once you grow up." Jian Bing immediately distanced himself slightly from Si Nan, failing to notice someone sneaking up behind him.

The Military Knife in Luo Sen's hand accurately pierced the attacker's chest, preventing the attacker's blade from reaching Jian Bing.

Guan Xiaowen happened to be closest to Jian Bing. Reacting instantly, she kicked the attacker down, and that kick drove the embedded knife deeper into his body, completely hiding the hilt.

She spat indignantly, "How dare you sneak attack my Master? Die!"

The man on the ground looked at Guan Xiaowen, unable to close his eyes in death, "You?"

Lying on the ground, he never dreamed he would die at the hands of a young girl.

"Good, that kick was great! It saved your future husband," Si Nan clapped her hands in approval.

"Ouch~" Jian Bing, not paying attention, was tripped by the corpse under his feet. He was almost driven mad by his Apprentice's words; how could she say such nonsense? Why couldn't she keep her mouth shut?

"Master, are you alright?" Guan Xiaowen rushed over solicitously to help Jian Bing up, making Jian Bing even more embarrassed. Since being injured on his last mission, his legs hadn't fully recovered. In contrast, this little girl had finished off an enemy with a single stab and saved him.

His face flushed with shame. He, a grown man, had been saved by a young girl for the first time in his life. His heart, calm for over thirty years, suddenly began to pound.

He dared not look at Guan Xiaowen, haphazardly brushing off the white snow clinging to him with his hands, coughing awkwardly, "Cough, cough, I'm fine, I'm fine. You, you, go help Ma Bufan; he was just injured."

That rascal Apprentice shouted that, she must not have heard it, otherwise she wouldn't be so unresponsive. Wait, what was he thinking? What reaction was he expecting?

Jian Bing was utterly flustered.

"Oh, huh? Bufan is hurt? I'll go check," Guan Xiaowen quickly let go of Jian Bing's arm and ran toward Ma Bufan.

Si Nan appeared beside Jian Bing like a ghost, "Oh my, Master, you still say you don't like her. I saw it; when you first saw her, you looked at her twice. Don't try to fool me."

"At your age, honestly confess, didn't you get sentimental just now? That was a case of the damsel saving the hero."

"Sigh, this Apprentice of yours is hopeless. Is this the right time to be talking nonsense about this kind of thing?" Jian Bing held his forehead, truly about to be driven to depression by his own Apprentice, torn between laughter and tears, yet unwilling to strike her.

"Don't worry, don't worry. Only one is left, and he's no match for Song Yuan, plus Luo Sen is still here."

Si Nan smiled and turned Jian Bing's body to face Guan Xiaowen, who was busy checking Ma Bufan's injury, "Your Master just won't open his eyes. What a good wife she'd make—young, beautiful, understanding, and caring—Hey, Master, don't walk away?"

On the battlefield, only the Black Boss remained. Song Yuan walked forward, "Come on, let's have a go."